Pre Basel 2014: Introducing the Arnold & Son Time Pyramid in Stainless Steel

Arnold & Son introduced some pure horological sweetness last year, and now they decided to make that sweetness available in stainless steel and thus for a more attractive price. Because every tiny detail is exposed through the two sapphire crystals, the Arnold & Son Time Pyramid shows perfectly how a mechanical wrist watch works. Skip that watchmaking course that you, get yourself a Time Pyramid, and learn everything about mechanical watches.

The title says “Pre Basel 2014” which might sound strange. Next week is the SIHH and Baselworld isn’t until the end of March. However news like this, a stainless steel version of Arnold & Son’s Time Pyramid, is simply so good that we have to share it. The rose gold version has a retail price of $ 40,300 USD and the new stainless steel version comes $10k south of that, at $29,850 USD.

The horological lesson starts with the crown, which is positioned at the 6 o’clock position. By turning the crown you wind two main spring barrels, which together deliver 90 hours steady power supply to the movement. Connected to each main spring barrel, via several gears, are two power reserve indicators to display the energy level for each barrel separately.

The gear train runs vertically, connecting the two barrels at six o’clock to the balance wheel at twelve o’clock. The bridges are designed so that all of the wheels, the two mainspring barrels, the escapement and balance wheel are all magnificently visible from the dial side.

The entire hand-wound movement caliber A&S1615, with skeletonized pyramid-shaped architecture, was conceived, designed and developed in-house. That means, Arnold & Son together with La Joux-Perret, because both companies are from the same owner. All parts are decorated and finished by hand, featuring chamfered brides and high-polished edges, Côtes de Genève, circular satin-finished wheels and blued screws. The grey finish of the German silver (which actually is a nickel silver alloy) bridges is called NAC finish by Arnold & Son and actually looks great.

By the way, the entire movement measures just 4.40 mm in height. All movement parts and all indications are built on three levels, with the subsidiary seconds dial on the bottom, the hour indications on a sapphire crystal dial in the middle level, and a silver top ring for the minutes indication. The Arnold & Son Time Pyrimid measures 44.6 mm in diameter and you might consider waxing your arm before you wear it.

We could tell you about how the Time Pyramid was inspired by the regulators created by John and Roger Arnold over two hundred years ago, and by antique British skeleton clocks, however Max Reddick did a great job in telling more about that when he introduced the Time Pyramid in rose gold to you (see here).

Some specifications:

• Case: stainless steel, diameter 44.6 mm, cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides, case back see-through sapphire, water resistant to 30 m
• Movement: exclusive Arnold & Son caliber A&S1615, skeletonized, hand-wound, 27 jewels, diameter 37 mm, thickness 4.40 mm, power reserve over 90 h, 21’600 vph (3Hz), NAC grey treated with Haute Horlogerie finishing: manually chamfered bridges with polished edges, Côtes de Genève, circular satin-finished wheels, blued screws
• Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, double power reserve indication

More info: www.arnoldandson.com